Public Law

Our team has proven experience in all aspects of public law in the broadest sense, providing the academic, pragmatic, effective advice our clients require.

As a trusted advisor to many governmental bodies and leading companies, our practice has a privileged position with regard to legal developments in the field. We are regarded as a reference through our involvement in ground-breaking matters with a major impact at different decision-making levels. We have a strong awareness of broader business and political context and are well versed in handling highly mediatised cases.

Shopping carts supermarket
Matter
NL Law

Stibbe vertegenwoordigt Albert Heijn in Didam-zaak

Stibbe heeft met succes Albert Heijn Hendrikse en Ahold Real Estate vertegenwoordigd in een kort geding tegen de Gemeente Tynaarlo.

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Amsterdam Keizersgracht
Matter
NL Law

Legal sponsorship Stibbe x Fairwork

Stibbe has entered into a long-term partnership with FairWork, assisting it on important social and complex legal questions.

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Windmills North Sea wind energy
Matter
NL Law

Stibbe advises RWE

The Administrative Law Division of the Council of State ruled on the upscaling of the Karolinapolder wind park in Dinteloord on 12 April 2023.

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Staff members and visitors walking around a hospital
Matter
BE Law

Stibbe represented the Belgian State in a major case regarding the Pandemic Law before the Constitutional Court

Stibbe successfully represented the Belgian State in the appeals against the Pandemic Law before the Constitutional Court of Belgium.

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Services

Our multidisciplinary team practices in the broad field of public law. We focus mainly on the structure and organisation of government, public finances (including the government budget and taxation), subsidies, public contracts, public projects, access to public information, division of powers and the position of the judiciary, civil service, the operation of public companies and authorities, local governance (including intermunicipal partnerships), human rights, science and education law, language law, concessions, and public real estate. Our practice is also recognised for its top expertise in national and EU procurement law. Moreover, we are frequently consulted to draft, interpret, transpose, and implement legislation. We also have extensive expertise in the allocation of scarce rights, state aid, and licenses.

Through our multidisciplinary approach we have extensive experience in conducting administrative and judicial proceedings on public and administrative law issues. We represent and assist on a daily basis numerous clients in proceedings before the national courts and tribunals, the Belgian Constitutional Court, the Council of State, and the European Courts (e.g. requests for preliminary rulings of the Court of Justice).

We are also highly experienced advisors in the rapidly growing field of government liability, including unlawful legislation, where public authorities are increasingly faced with claims for damages from private individuals and companies. We handle such matters before civil courts, administrative courts, and the Council of State.

Our experts are active in all sectors where government regulation has an impact: science and education, real estate and construction, healthcare and life sciences, telecommunications, utilities, sports, mobility and infrastructure, energy, and the government itself. Our clients include central/federal states, regions, provinces, municipalities, government agencies, public bodies, public corporations, and private companies whose business activity brings them into contact with the public sector.

We maintain close contact with universities, parliaments and ministries. We hold academic mandates (professor or assistant) at the most renowned universities in the Benelux. We are involved in cases that create new relevant case law and we contribute to academic articles, which allows us to keep up with recent legal developments in the field. Finally, our experts frequently author publications on topics relating to public law and are regular guest speakers at seminars and conferences.

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Recognition & Awards

"The public law department has extended knowledge on the PSO regulation and is able to translate this complicated matter into hands-on advice."

Chambers Europe
2023
Public Law

"They are always to the point, and understand our questions very quickly and what we are looking for."

Chambers Europe
2023
Public Law

Clients appreciate the lawyers' efficiency, claiming "they will always look for an adequate answer."

Chambers Europe
2022
Public Law

"They provide high-quality legal services and take into account internal deadlines by delivering their advice or input timely. They take initiative to handle cases or push forward certain dossiers and they think in the interest of our business."

Chambers Europe
2021
Public Law

"Stibbe is a law firm that perfectly combines theory and practice by making a pragmatic application of legislations and their evolutions."

Chambers Europe
2021
Public Law

One client appreciates that the lawyers are "very approachable and deliver extremely high-quality work" and adds: "Work is always timely and the lawyers are always proactive."

Chambers Europe
2020
Public Law: Planning and Environment